Saving water, time and money with your washing machine is easier than you might think.  Here are some tips:

 

When to wash.  Did you know many people actually over wash and over dry their clothes?  Before you wash your next load of clothes, take a minute and think about whether your clothes are actually dirty.  If your clothes have only been worn once, they might not need to be washed. Of course for underwear, socks, or workout clothes, you want to wash them every time.  But for dress shirts, sweaters, and pants, particularly jeans, you can wear them a few times before washing unless you were sweating or they are stained.  Bottom line—if they don’t pass the smell test, they need to be washed.  Check out the Consumer Reports recommended list of How Often to Wash some common items.

 

Fill it up (but not too much).  Nothing is more satisfying than an empty clothes hamper but resist the urge to do a small load of laundry just to get it out of the way.  Each load of laundry uses water and energy, and it’s all about making that count.  One of the easiest ways to save water and energy is to make sure to wash full loads.  

 

However, filling the machine too full can result in clothes not being washed properly, so don’t overload.  Make sure to leave enough room for the water and detergent to do their work, generally filling the washer 2/3 to no more than 3/4 full.  Also, load loosely and don't pack it in!  Don’t throw everything together just to get a full load.  Very dirty clothes should be washed separately, as well as colors and certain types of fabrics.

 

Go cold.  Up to 75% of the energy used for washing clothes goes to heating water.  Washing in cold water saves energy and can reduce your energy bill.  Even better, washing in cold water can make your clothes last longer.  Warm water causes clothes to fade faster and also causes shrinkage.

 

Concerned about whether your clothes will get clean in cold water?  No need. Most detergents are now developed to work well in cold water.  If you’re not sure, check your detergent label.  If you have an occasional load of socks, gym clothes, or something that is more soiled, go ahead and wash in warm and use cold for the rinse cycle.  This can still significantly lower your energy use and save money.

 

Set it right.  Using the right settings on your machine can help save water and energy.  If you really need to run that small load, use the small load or low water level setting.  If your clothes aren’t overly dirty, avoid using the pre-rinse cycle.  Check the instructions and make sure to add the right amount of detergent.  Many people put in too much detergent which adds extra rinse time and can actually result in repair issues with your machine.  Check the detergent instructions for your machine type and follow them.  Also, if you don’t use too much detergent, you can skip the extra rinse option.  Finally, make sure your washer is removing as much water as possible before you dry.  Using the high-spin cycle will cut down on time in the dryer later on and save energy and money.

 

Pre-treat and hand-wash spots.  If there are specific stains on clothing, it’s a good idea to treat these spots with an appropriate stain remover or a dab of detergent before running them through the machine.  For some items, it might not even be necessary to run a machine wash.  Hand washing could be more than enough for a small spot, allowing you to continue to wear the item before washing.

 

Wash Wisely.  Share what you have learned with others in your household and post a note near the washing machine to remind everyone of these tips.  Make a commitment to follow these tips whenever possible and mark this action done!

 

Extra Credit - Upgrade to a more efficient washing machine.  Upgrade your washing machine to a more efficient model and save significantly on water, energy, and money, particularly if your machine was built before 2003.  Check out the Upgrade Clothes Washer action for more information!